Today's Birthdays

Christopher mentioned that "some interesting people share your bd." So I looked. Here are some of them.

People born on October 15

Sarah Ferguson (1959): Duchess of York who adopted the nickname, Fergie, while growing up in London. After graduating college, Ferguson worked for a public relations firm and enjoyed her jet-setting social life. Ferguson met Prince Andrew at Windsor Castle in 1985, and the two were married a year later. Together, they have two beautiful daughters, Beatrice (born in 1988) and Eugenie (born in 1990). Before the couple divorced in 1996, Ferguson was continually hounded by the press, poked fun at for her weight and criticized for her lewd behavior. Still, Ferguson has been embraced by the American public, and has enjoyed success as both a Weight Watcher’s spokesperson and an author of the Budgie the Little Helicopter series of children’s books.

Jim Palmer (1945): Baseball player who is as famous for his Jockey underwear commercials as he is for his pitching. Although his 18-year career with the Orioles was plagued by injury, Palmer won the prestigious Cy Young Award three times (1973, 1975 and 1976), and set team records for career wins and shutouts. Incessant arm injuries were known to slow Palmer’s game down, but that did not stop him from becoming the only pitcher to win a World Series game in three different decades in 1983. Palmer pitched his last game with the Orioles in 1984, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.

Penny Marshall (1942): Actress and director who became a household name after playing blue-collar brewery worker, Laverne DiFazio, on the long-running sitcom “Laverne and Shirley” (1977-83). While Marshall enjoyed success on the small screen in the television movies “More Than Friends” (1978) and “Love Thy Neighbor” (1984), her greatest achievements have taken place behind the camera. Directing the coming-of-age flick Big in 1988 established Marshall as a brilliant director, and she went on to garner critical acclaim for Awakenings (1990), A League of Their Own (1992), Renaissance Man (1994) and The Preacher’s Wife in 1996. Marshall's latest flick Driving in Cars with Boys, starring Drew Barrymore, is in theatres now.

Linda Lavin (1937): Actress who rose to fame playing Alice Hyatt, a waitress working in Mel’s Diner, on the long-running sitcom “Alice” (1976-85). Lavin began her career on the Broadway stage playing Lois Lane in a production of “It’s a Bird. . . It’s a Plane. . . It’s Superman” (1966). She continued to land roles in theatre and starred in “Little Murders” (1969) and “The Last of the Red Hot Lovers” (1969). Segueing to television in the ‘70s, Lavin made guest appearances on “Barney Miller” before starring in “Alice.” In 1986, Lavin returned to Broadway in Neil Simon’s “Broadway Bound,” and has since starred in “Gypsy” (1990) and “The Sisters Rosenweig” in 1993.

And from KCBQ:

On this day:

Economist John Kenneth Galbraith is 94. (Born 1908)

Historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. is 85. (Born 1917)

Announcer Chris Economaki is 82. (Born 1920)

Automobile executive Lee Iacocca is 78. (Born 1924) He is credited with bringing Chrysler back to respectability.

Actress Linda Lavin is 65. (Born 1937) Her credits include the TV series "The Sopranos," and "Barney Miller," although she is probably best know for playing the starring role in the 1970s sitcom "Alice."

Folksinger Barry McGuire is 65. (Born 1937) He's best know for the song "Eve of Destruction."

Actress, director Penny Marshall is 60. (Born 1942) Her acting credits include "Laverne and Shirley" and "The Odd Couple," while she's directed a number of films, including "Riding in Cars With Boys," "The Preacher's Wife," and "A League of Their Own."

Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Palmer is 57. (Born 1945)

Grammy Award-winning singer, composer Richard Carpenter is 56. (Born 1946) He teamed with his sister Karen to form the successful duo The Carpenters.

Singer Chris DeBurgh is 54. (Born 1948)

Tennis champion Roscoe Tanner is 51. (Born 1951)

Singer Tito Jackson is 49. (Born 1953) He was a member of the group The Jackson Five.

Actor Jere Burns is 48. (Born 1954) His credits include the TV shows "Good Morning Miami," "Dear John," and "Something So Right."

Actress Tanya Roberts is 47. (Born 1955) Her credits include the movie "A View To Kill" and the TV series "That '70s Show" and "Charlie's Angels."

Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson is 43. (Born 1959)

Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse is 43. (Born 1959)

Actress Vanessa Marcil is 34. (Born 1968) Her credits include the movie "The Rock" and the TV series "NYPD Blue" and "Beverly Hills 90201."

Singer-actor Eric Benet is 32. (Born 1970)

Actor Devon Gummersall is 24. (Born 1978) His credits include the TV series "Roswell," "Felicity," and "My So Called Life."

  

Happy birthday to me.

I turn 39 today. Yesterday, I felt -- at different times -- not a day over 12, somewhat less than 4, close to 80, definitely 17, and mostly somewhere in my late 20's. At no time did I feel 38. Will I feel 39 today?

I doubt it.